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Today, Seven News Jim McFadzean spoke by phone with the Minister seeking answers and clarification for a rumor mill run amuck with speculation about the removals.

Jim McFadzean
"Any reason why these two board members from the finance subcommittee were removed by you?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"One was removed and the other resigned."

Jim McFadzean
"Who resigned? Which of the two resigned?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"Mr. Longsworth."

Jim McFadzean
"Did he say why he resigned?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"Well it's something personal which I don't think..if anything, he is the one that is supposed to be interviewed. But that one, we had a conversation and we agreed and he said, 'Being that is the case, I suppose to resign for the best interest of the industry.'"

Jim McFadzean
"Why was Mr. Castillo removed?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"Well for him I feel that I have someone else that I am thinking of appointing and I feel that Mr. Santino has served well but I feel that there are a lot of Belizeans that have expertise and want to share with us also. It's not because of any nonperformance. I feel that under the act it makes provision that you are appointed for a certain time and after that time in the interest of the industry, If I feel that there is someone that can bring new ideas or different ideas then my aim is to have the best at BTB and hence it's not a political fallout."

Jim McFadzean
"Well if Mr. Castliio was performing like you said, was doing a superb job, why replace him?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"I didn't say Mr. Castillo, I said the board."

Jim McFadzean
"But you are only replacing Mr. Castillo and in the case of Mr. Longsworth well he resigned."

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"Well this coming week I will looking carefully over it because this will be my final Wednesday when I'm in office, so either re-appoint or bring new, others to the board."

Jim McFadzean
"So there is no truth that you just recently in December re-appointed the full membership of the board to an extended term leading up to the end of the UDP administration?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"Not so."

Jim McFadzean
"So that's false?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"One can still be appointed, because coming to the end of the term I am just starting to send letters."

Jim McFadzean
"Have you decided who you are going to replace these two men with on the board?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"Yes I have in mind but I have to I have to refer with my PM. When I will let go someone I discuss it with my Prime Minister and if I will appoint I will do likewise."

Jim McFadzean
"The fact that Mr. Castillo and Mr. Longsworth sat on this sub finance committee that oversaw the dissemination of approved budget requests from the Belize Tourism Board, did that have anything to do with the fact that these two men will no longer serve on the Board of Directors?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"Not so. Again because the sub committees, the Board recommends to me who they feel should serve in the different committees that have a side from the Board of Directors."

Longsworth who was appointed to the Board in September of last year, and served as Chairman of the Cruise sub-committee, agreed to step down when he met with the Minister on Monday of this week.

Longsworth told Seven News in a telephone conversation today, that the Minister was concerned that his financial interest in the Boat Tender industry posed a conflict of interest. Hence he submitted his resignation to the Minister on Tuesday of this week.

Castillo has been serving on the Board since the change of Government in 2008 as Vice-Chairman of the Finance Sub-Committee. He told Seven News that he was taken aback by the messenger delivered letter of termination, since only a little over a month ago, at a Board meeting, the Minister had expressed his intent to renew the tenure of all sitting Board members. A point Longsworth also confirmed with Seven News.

The Prime Minister today told us that he has spoken with Santino Castillo and heard his grievances. But he told us that unless there is some legal case to be made impugning the minister's decision he has no intention to interfere with the minister and must assume that he had a good reason for doing so.

The Prime Minister called us back later in the evening to confirm that he had spoken to Minister Herredia and is satisfied that Santino's term was up on February 15th., and in that case, he has no complaint at all with Herredia's decision.